John A. Pople

Biography

Abstract

John A. Pople won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1998 "for his development of computational methods in quantum chemistry.” His work combined complex mathematics and chemistry. He held positions at Cambridge University, the National Physical Laboratory in England, Carnegie Institute of Technology, Carnegie-Mellon University, and Northwestern University.

Important Dates

October 31, 1925Birth, Somerset (England).

1943 – 1945Began undergraduate studies with special permission from the government to join the military after 2 years of studying, Cambridge University, Cambridge (England).

1945 – 1947Studies put on hold after WWII since military service was no longer needed, instead worked for Bristol Aeroplane Company.

1947Granted permission to continue studies.

1951Received PhD, Cambridge University, Cambridge (England).

1951 – 1958 Research Fellow (1951-1954) and Lecturer, Mathematics Faculty (1954-1958), Trinity College, Cambridge University, Cambridge (England).

1956 – 1957Spent summer of 1956 and 1957 beginning work on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, National Research Council, Ottawa (Ont.).

1958Named Head of new Basics Physics Division, National Physical Laboratory, Middlesex (England).

1961 – 1962Sabbatical research year (1961-1962), Carnegie Institute of Technology, later merged with with Carnegie-Mellon University.

1964 – 1993J. C. Warner University Professor of Science, Carnegie Institute of Technology, later merged with Carnegie-Mellon University.

1992Awarded Wolf Prize in Chemistry.

1993Board of Trustees Professor, Chemistry Department, Northwestern University.

1998Awarded Nobel Prize in Chemstry "for his development of computational methods in quantum chemistry”.

2003Knighted.

March 15, 2004Death, Chicago (Ill.).

Occupation

Theoretical chemist.

Places

Birth

Somerset (England)

Undergraduate Education

Cambridge (England)

Graduate Education

Cambridge (England)

Employment

Cambridge (England)

Ottawa (Ont.)

Middlesex (England)

Pittsburgh (Pa.)

Evanston (Ill.)

Death

Chicago (Ill.)

Subjects

Chemistry.

Nuclear magnetic resonance.

Quantum chemistry.

Quantum mechanics.

Relationships

People

Family

Bowers, Joy

Wife, married 1952.

Jones, Mary

Mother.

Pople, Keith

Father.

Advisors & Collaborators

Abraham, R. J. (Raymond John), 1933-

Advised by Pople at National Physics Laboratory, Middlesex, England.

Bernstein, H. J.

Collaborated on book, "High-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance."

Beveridge, David L., 1938-

Advised by Pople at Carnegie-Mellon University, and collaborated on book, "Approximate molecular orbital theory."

Curtiss, L. A. (Larry A.)

Advised by Pople at Carnegie-Mellon University.

Ditchfield, Robert

Advised by Pople at Carnegie-Mellon University.

Frisch, Michael J.

Advised by Pople at Carnegie-Mellon University.

Gill, Peter

Research assistiant to Pople at Carnegie-Mellon University.

Gordon, M. S. (Mark S.)

Advised by Pople at Carnegie-Mellon University.

Head-Gordon, Martin

Advised by Pople at Carnegie-Mellon University.

Hehre, Warren J.

Advised by Pople at Cambridge University.

Jemmis, E. D.

Advised by Pople at Carnegie-Mellon University.

Lennard-Jones, J. E. (John Edward)

Advisor at Cambridge University.

Parr, Robert G., 1921-

Advisor and colleague at Cambridge University.

Radom, Leo, 1944-

Advised by Pople and collaborator at Carnegie-Mellon University.

Raghavachari, Krishnan

Advised by Pople at Carnegie-Mellon University.

Schlegel, H. Bernhard, 1951-

Advised by Pople at Carnegie-Mellon University.

Schleyer, Paul von R., 1930-

Collaborator at Carnegie-Mellon University.

Schneider, William G.

Collaborated on book "High-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance."

Additional

Kohn, Walter, 1923-2016

Both awarded 1998 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for separate projects.

Pariser, Rudolph, 1923-

Institutions

Major Positions

Carnegie Institute of Technology

Researcher during sabbatical year and J. C. Warner University Professor of Science.

Carnegie-Mellon University

J. C. Warner University Professor of Science.

National Physical Laboratory (Great Britain).

Head of Basic Physics Division.

National Research Council of Canada

Researcher.

Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.)

Board of Trustees Professor, Chemistry Department.

Trinity College (University of Cambridge)

Research Fellow and Lecturer.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

University of Cambridge

Received PhD (1951).

Wolf Foundation Prizes

1992 Wolf Foundation Prize in Chemistry recipient.

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Nobel Voices Videohistory Project collection, 2000-2001.

Archives Center

Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History.

MRC 601, 12th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20560, USA

Sir John A. Pople papers, 1930-2004 (bulk 1965-2000).

The Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Library of Chemical History.

Chemical Heritage Foundation

315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2702, USA

Subject

Robert G. Parr addition to papers, 1935-2001 (bulk 1950-1995).

The Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Library of Chemical History.

Chemical Heritage Foundation

315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2702, USA

Robert G. Parr papers, 1945-2002 bulk 1950-1990)

The Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Library of Chemical History.

Chemical Heritage Foundation

315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2702, USA

Rudolph Pariser papers, 1951-1995.

The Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Library of Chemical History.

Chemical Heritage Foundation

315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2702, USA

Published Resources

Author

Approximate molecular orbital theory [by] John A. Pople [and] David L. Beveridge.

High-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance / [by] J.A. Pople, W.G. Schneider, and H.J. Bernstein.

Subject

Encyclopedia Britannica - John Pople.

John Pople Nobel Prize biography.

John Pople Physics Today obituary.